perkins



(No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

O. G. PERKINS.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER. No. 290,470. Patented De0.'1 8, 1883.

H 11m minim 3\ 77/ KI 3 cf:

ATTEST! INVENTUH! Z u. Pzrzns. Pluto-Lithograph". Waxhingion, D. c.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2. O. G.. PERKINS.

} AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER. No. 290,470. Patented Dec. 18, 1883.

VII/Ill) ATTESTII INVENTO (No Model.)

0. G. PERKINS.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER. No. 290,470. Patented Dec. 18, 1883.

D I fi T O Fiyfi.

Giraud iw Ze/l'fl breaiien ATTESTI INVENTO ZhMZMW N. PETERS, Phowuuw mr, wmin wn. u.C.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' UNirnn STATES PATENT rrrcn.

CHARLES G. PERKINS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGXOE TO THE IMPERIAL ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRlC-CIRCUIT MAKER AND EREAKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,470, dated December 18, 1883.

Application filed June 9. 1853. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. PERKINS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York, and State of NewYork, have inventeda certain new and useful Automatic Electric-Circuit Maker and Breaker, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an electriccircuit 1O maker and breaker connected with a clockwork and automatically operated thereby.

My invention consists of a ratchetshaped block, of insulating material, mounted with a suitable number of metallic plates, which are arranged so as to close and open the circuit for a certain time. The aforesaid block is provided with a projection integral therewith, and mounted with a metallic ring having a projection which enters the body of the part forming the ratchet, and is electrically connected with the metallicplates mounted thereon. The said ratchet-block is rigidly fixed to the shaft, which makes a revolution once in every twenty-four hours. The aforesaid metallic plates of the ratchet are, when the circuit is closed, in contact with a metallic spring having one of its ends electrically connected with the positive wire of a dynamoelectric machine. The metallic ring mounted on the aforesaid projection of the ratchet-block,is in constant contact with a metallic spring electrically connected with a wire leading therefrom to a series of storage-batteries.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents the ratchet block connected with an ordinary clock-work. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the ratchet-block. Fig. 3 is asectionalviewtaken on the line 1 1. Fig. at is a perspective view of the metallic ring. Fig. Sisadiagram show- 0 ing the circuit maker and breaker arranged in the main circuit between a dynamo-electric machine and a series of storage-batteries.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings, in which 5 a represents the clock-work, mounted on the base b.

1) represents the shaft, which makes a complete revolution once in every twenty-four hours.

c is the ratchet-block, made of suitable insulating material, and is rigidly fixed to said shaft Z).

(Z and d are the metallic plates, mounted on said ratchet-block c.

c is the metallic spring. which is electrically connected with the positive wire 1), leading to a dynamo-electric machine.

f is the projection integral with said ratchet-block c. and is mounted with the metallic ring g, provided with projections h h integral therewith, 'which are electrically connected with the plates (Z d.

e is the metallic spring, electrically connected wit-h the positive conductor 91, leading to the batteries.

It will be understood that the circuit maker and breaker, together with the clock-work, is arranged in the main electrical circuit, between a generator and a series of storage-batteries which are arranged in the circuit of the generator.

It will also be understood that the batteries herein mentioned require an electrical current charged therein for a period often hours duration, in order to properly charge them.

- Mode of operation: The clock, after having been properly wound up, will have been started together with the generator. The drawings represent the circuit closed, and the clock is now running, during which time the current passes from the positive wire 1) to the binding-post l; thence to the spring 6, to the metallic plate (1, to the metallic screw 3; thence to the metallic ring g, to the spring 6, from which it passes to the binding-post 2; thence to the batteries 8, through which it passes to the negative wire 0 leading back to the generator. The circuit in this instance will remain closed for five hours, after which time the clock mechanism will have turned the ratchet-block 0 far enough to move the metallic plate (1 from beneath the spring 0 and causes the latter to snap quickly down upon the insulation at, being a portion of the ratchetblock 0, the result of which breaks the circuit quickly, in which condition it remains for a period of one hour, at the expiration of which time the portion etwill have been moved hours, after which the same operation is performed. It will be understood that I use in this instance an ordinary eight-day clock.

Thus it will be seen that the clock continues running after the generator shall have been stopped, which is again started in the morn ing when the factory shall have been opened for its daily labor.

I do not wish to confine myself to the particular form of the ratchet-block arranged on the shaft operated by a clock-movement, as I am aware that I could change the ratchetblock and clock mechanism so that the circuit could be opened and closed at intervals longer and shorter than those described in the foregoing without departing from the spirit of my invention I am aware that circuit-breakers having insulating-spaces on the periphery thereof, the whole controlled by a clock-controllingmechanism, have heretofore been used. This construction is objectionable in my case from the fact that when the circuit is broken the tendency of the brush is to spring back against the body upon which it had been resting, and in doing so would cause considerable damage to both the brush and metallic wheel by burning, which would be caused by a slow breaking of the current. The same difficulty would occur when closing the circuit.

I am also aware that circuit makers and breakers have heretofore been controlled by clock mechanism; but in this, like the former case cited, the breaker would cause great damage by not breaking the circuit quick enough to prevent it from burning, which would invariably corrode the contact-points, and cause an imperfect electrical connection.

The objections herein described are obviated by my invention, fully described in the specification, and pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a clock-controlling mechanism, a ratchet-shaped block of insulating material, rigidly fixed to the main shaft of said clock mechanism, said block having a series of metallic plates mounted upon its periphery at a suitable distance apart, leaving a space of insulation between their ends, so that when it passes from beneath the brush bearing thereon it will cause said brush to snap from it quickly down onto the insulated space, and likewise snap down upon a metallic plate.

2. In combination with a clock-controlling mechanism, substantially shown and described, the ratch'et-block 0, of insulating material, mounted with the metallic plates (1 d, projection f, metallic ring 9, projections h h, metallic springs e 6, screws (1 and base I).

3. In combination with a dynamo-electric machine and a series of storage'batteries, a ratchet-shaped block of insulating material, having a number of metallic plates fixed on the periphery thereof, and a projecting metallic hub electrically connected with the aforesaid plates by means ofa metallic screw, the said ratchet-block rigidly fixedto the main shaft of a clockcontrolling mechanism, the metallic brushes bearing upon the periphery of the ratchet-block and metallic hub, and the conductors connecting the brushes with the generator and the storage-batteries.

4. The combination, substantially as shown and described, of the clock mechanism a,

ratchet-block 0, base I), shaft 1), metallic plates (Z (1 projection j, metallic ring 9, projections h h, springs e 6, screws (2', conductors p n, storage-batteries s, and generator 15.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 8th day of Witnesses:

J. A. HURDLE, GEORGE Bnoxnn. 

